Michelle Mone reveals she is waiting for the all clear following cancer scare

'It's a very difficult time': Michelle Mone reveals she is waiting for the all clear following cancer scare

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UPDATED:

12:41 GMT, 22 May 2012

Scottish businesswoman Michelle Mone has revealed that she is in the midst of a cancer scare.

At the weekend the bra tycoon had a cancerous mole removed from her shoulder, following months of worry about her potential ill-health.

The 40-year-old mother of three is still waiting for the all clear following the operation.

She told the Daily Mail that ‘this is a very difficult time’ but has been distracting herself by immersing herself in her work and enjoying a holiday in the Maldives.

'It's a very difficult time': Michelle Mone has revealed she is waiting for the all clear following a cancer scare

According to a source close to Mrs Mone, she first went to her GP in March when she noticed the strange growth on her shoulder, which the doctor immediately expressed concern about.

Procedure: Mone had a bandage on her shoulder, the result of having the cancerous growth removed

Following the operation on Saturday, she has a large bandage covering her shoulder – an image in stark contrast to the glamorous shots of her in a swimsuit during her recent break in the Maldives.

However, Mrs Mone most likely stayed in the shade during her trip given that sun exposure is a well-known risk factor for skin cancer.

Her golden tan in the photographs was more likely the result of her new fake tan range, which she launched in Glasgow today.

The range of tanning products, which includes a selection of lotions and mousses in various shades, is the new arm of Mone’s 46m lingerie company, Ultimo.

Skin cancer is especially common in people who have spent long periods outdoors or on sunbeds, or who were frequently sunburned as a child.

Fair-skinned Scots, like Mrs Mone, have the highest incidence of malignant melanomas – a dangerous form of skin cancer – in Britain.

The number of young Scots succumbing to the deadliest form of the disease has more than tripled since the 1970s.

In an interview with Hello! magazine, published this week, she briefly refers to her cancer scare, alongside the news that she is in new relationship.

Passionate: Mone, who launched the tanning range in Glasgow today, says her interest in the beauty industry was ignited a few years ago when she lost six stone

The identity of her new partner was revealed yesterday. His name is Karl French, 44, who, according to a source close to Miss Mone is ‘a very respected businessman’, based in Dubai.

Moving on: Mrs Mone's new love Karl French has been supporting her following the breakdown of her marriage to Michael Mone (pictured)

Mr French, a divorcee who reportedly used to be the head of a bank in Singapore and Dubai, has been consoling Mrs Mone.

She has reported being emotional since the breakup of her 20 year marriage with husband Michael Mone, who was recently discovered pictured with Samantha Bunn, 31, former design director at her Ultimo bra firm.

The Ultimo boss described it as the worst moment in her life.

The new couple were introduced by ex-Celtic boss John Barnes and seated next to each other at a dinner party.

She said: ‘I found myself sitting next to this guy. The thing I really liked about him was that I could really talk to him. Things came up about the situation I was in and after a couple of glasses of wine, I started to cry.’

She added: ‘He took my hand and told me everything is going to be okay, and it was like an angel had come down from heaven and just wrapped their arms around me.’

The businesswoman spoke recently of how looking for a new relationship was daunting. She said: ‘I’ve been with the same person since I was 17, so it’s quite scary. But I am looking forward to the future.’

Cancer Research UK say more than two Scots aged 15 to 34 are diagnosed with skin cancer each week.